Zeaxanthin
See also :
Other Names : All-E-Zeaxanthin, β,β-carotene-3,3'-diol, Xanthophyll, Xanthophylle, Zeaxanthin, Zéaxanthine
Zeaxanthin is one of the most common carotenoid alcohols found in nature. It is important in the xanthophyll cycle. Synthesized in plants and some micro-organisms, it is the pigment that gives paprika (made from bell peppers), corn, saffron, wolfberries, and many other plants and microbes their characteristic color.
The name is derived from Zea mays (common yellow maize corn, in which zeaxanthin provides the primary yellow pigment), plus xanthos, the Greek word for "yellow".
Xanthophylls such as zeaxanthin are found in highest quantity in the leaves of most green plants, where they act to modulate light energy and perhaps serve as a non-photochemical quenching agent to deal with triplet chlorophyll (an excited form of chlorophyll), which is overproduced at very high light levels, during photosynthesis.
Animals derive zeaxanthin from a plant diet. Zeaxanthin is one of the two primary xanthophyll carotenoids contained within the retina of the eye. Within the central macula, zeaxanthin is the dominant component, whereas in the peripheral retina, lutein predominates.
Special Precautions of Zeaxanthin
There are no reported side effects from taking zeaxanthin supplements. However, there is a decreased absorption rate when taken with Orlistat, mineral oil, and Chitosan.
Benefits and uses of Zeaxanthin are
Lutein and zeaxanthin, found together in many vegetables, are potent antioxidants. In humans, they occur in high concentrations in the eye, including the lens, retina, and macula. For that reason, lutein and zeaxanthin are thought to be crucial to healthy vision. They are uses to prevent eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa.
- Several observational studies have connected high dietary intake of foods providing zeaxanthin with lower incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), most notably the Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS).There is currently insufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of dietary or supplemental antioxidants in treatment or primary prevention of ARMD, or the formation or progression of cataracts. Any benefit is more likely to be apparent in subpopulations of individuals exposed to high oxidative stress, such as heavy smokers or those with poor nutrition. In 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration rejected a Qualified Health Claims application by Xangold, citing insufficient evidence supporting the use of a zeaxanthin-containing supplement in prevention of AMD.
- As a food additive, zeaxanthin is a food dye with E number E161h.
